Luis Contreras is done playing baseball and ready to move into coaching.
The former Astros right-hander announced his retirement from professional baseball on Sunday, July 26, sharing the news in a heartfelt Instagram post. Contreras said he is leaving the mound behind after an eight-year career that included 14 appearances for Houston over the last two seasons.
“Today, I officially retire from my playing career and begin my journey as a coach,” Contreras wrote. “Baseball has given me far more than I ever could have imagined.
Now it’s my turn to give back. I can’t wait to pour everything I’ve learned into the next generation and help others chase their own dreams.”
Contreras finishes his MLB career with a 0-0 record and a 7.50 ERA.
A native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, Contreras signed with the Chicago Cubs in April 2015. Chicago released him in May 2016, and he spent the next three years away from affiliated baseball.
Milwaukee gave him another shot in 2019, and he climbed back through the minors as a reliever. He reached Triple-A for the first time in 2022 at age 26, posting an 8.00 ERA in his first taste of the level. In 2023, he was better with the Nashville Sounds, going 4-2 with a 4.76 ERA in 26 games.
After that season, Contreras elected free agency and signed with Houston in November. His path to the majors opened in June 2024 after a strong run at Triple-A Sugar Land, where he logged a 1.40 ERA with a 26 percent strikeout rate and a 9.1 percent walk rate in 19 1/3 innings.
Contreras got off to a clean start in the big leagues, throwing four scoreless low-leverage outings out of the Houston bullpen. But a rough July 5, 2024, appearance in Minnesota changed the tone of his season, as the Twins piled up six hits and a walk on their way to six runs against him. He spent the rest of that year back in the minors.
In nine appearances for the Astros last season, Contreras held opponents scoreless in five of them. The other four outings were costly, and he finished with a 6.75 ERA before Houston designated him for assignment in an August roster crunch.
The Astros let him reach free agency after the season, and he never landed another affiliated job. He did spend a brief stretch in the Venezuelan Winter League last offseason, but that did not lead to another contract.
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